Two-way radio with silent annunciation

ABSTRACT

A point-to-point two-way radio system is disclosed. The two-way radio system is comprised of a first and second two-way handheld walkie-talkie radio, wherein the first and second two-way handheld walkie-talkies do not communicate one to the other through a base station. Each handheld walkie-talkie radio is comprised of a transmitter for transmitting a call announcement signal and a transmitter for transmitting a separate voice signal. The voice signal is different from the call announcement signal and is transmitted over a fixed frequency range. The handheld walkie-talkie also has a receiver for receiving the voice communication signal and call announcement signal and for announcing the call announcement signal and a switch for selectively choosing between an audible call announcement or a vibrational call announcement.

RELATED APPLICATION

This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/248,968 filed Feb. 12, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,331 which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/075,484, filed Feb.23, 1998.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to the annunciation of incoming calls ina two-way radio system. More particularly, the present invention relatesto a vibrating call notification in a two-way radio system.

BACKGROUND PRIOR ART

Two-way radios have become popular communication tools where phones orother communication methods are not cost effective or simply notefficient. These 2-way radios generally allow users to communicate withone another without experiencing interruptions caused by other users,such as the case with citizen band radios.

Early two-way radio systems relied on the voice of one of the users tocall or gain the attention of a fellow user. As improvements were madeto these systems, a call feature was added. The call feature wouldnotify the user of an incoming communication by producing an audibletone.

In many instances, an audible tone is ineffective in getting theattention of the intended receiver. Since two-way radios are often usedin environments such as construction sites where there is a great dealof noise, users often miss calls and important messages.

In other instances, the receiver may not want the audible tone to alertothers of incoming messages. When the receiver is in a quiet area suchas a library, church, movie, or other area where audible disturbancesare unwelcome, the receiver would have to turn off the two-way radio orrisk causing a disturbance.

Because audible annunciation methods in two-way radio communicationsystems are often undesirable, a need has developed for a method ofalerting a two-way radio user of an incoming call which does not producean audible tone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a point-to-point two-way radio system isdisclosed.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the two-way radiosystem is comprised of a first and second two-way handheld walkie-talkieradio, wherein the first and second two-way handheld walkie-talkies donot communicate one to the other through a base station. Each handheldwalkie-talkie radio is comprised of a transmitter for transmitting acall announcement signal and a transmitter for transmitting a separatevoice signal. The voice signal is different from the call announcementsignal and is transmitted over a fixed frequency range. The handheldwalkie-talkie also has a receiver for receiving the voice communicationsignal and call announcement signal and for announcing the callannouncement signal and a switch for selectively choosing between anaudible call announcement or a vibrational call announcement.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many differentforms, there will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodimentof the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure isto be considered as an exemplification of the principles of theinvention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of theinvention to the embodiment illustrated.

The present invention relates to a two-way radio communication system.The two-radio system comprises a plurality of handheld radios. Thehandheld radios are protected by a plastic housing. Most preferably, thehousing measures 4 inches high, 2½ inches wide, and 1⅜ inches deep andincludes a retractable antenna. Each handheld radio is equipped with areceiver and a transmitter. The receivers and transmitters operate overa fixed frequency range, preferably from 462.5 MHZ to 463.0 MHZ or anyrange or combination of ranges therein. This ultra high frequency rangeprovides outstanding penetration and frequency modulation provides clearreception. Alternatively, the receivers and transmitters may operateover a fixed frequency range from 446.00625 MHZ to 446.09375 MHZ,specifically including the operating frequencies of 446.00625 MHZ,446.01875 MHZ, 446.03125 MHZ, 446.04375 MHZ, 446.05625 MHZ, 446.06875MHZ, 446.08125 MHZ, and 446.09375 MHZ, in accordance with the PrivateMobile Radio (PMR) standards widely used in European countries. Signalsare transmitted directly between or among other radios on the system,rather than via an intermediate carrier, such as is done by cellulartelephones.

The radios are capable of delivering about 500 mW of radiated power.This provides maximum distance at full radiated power to deliver maximumrange capabilities. Each radio has 14 user selectable channels forprivacy. In the preferred embodiment, the radios include 38 additionalprivate tone codes that provide 532 different channel combinations toinsure a clear channel can be found. These 38 subcodes can beelectronically scanned to locate active communications. The radios alsoinclude memory locations for storing the most frequently usedchannel/subcode combinations. Furthermore, each radio has a private callwhich is a special voice scrambling circuitry to further insure thatcommunications remain private.

The radios further include a confirmation tone. The confirmation tone isan electronic, mechanical, or electromechanical sound that indicates thecompletion of one transmission and alerts another user to the fact thathe/she may begin a transmission.

The radios generally operate on DC power. Accordingly, any source of DCpower can be used. Preferably, four AAA alkaline batteries are used.Rechargeable nickel cadmium batteries may also be utilized as well as acigarette lighter adaptor power cord connecting the radio to a vehiclebattery.

A call feature to alert a user of an incoming message is also includedin the radios. This call feature includes a push button which “rings” ornotifies a user or users of an incoming communication. The notificationmeans is normally an audible, electronic, mechanical, orelectromechanical tone. However, in the present invention, a virtuallysilent notification means is present. This virtually silent notificationmeans is a vibrational system which causes the radio housing to pulse.This vibrating or pulsing alerts the user that he/she has an incomingmessage. This relatively inaudible notification system allows the userto receive notifications in environments where an audible tone isundesirable, such as churches or meetings where disturbances are frownedupon or loud construction sites where audible tones cannot be heard.

Additional features that can be incorporated into the radios include,but are not limited to, charge ports for recharging the batteries, wriststraps for easy carrying, auto squelch for noise control, monitorcontrol, liquid crystal displays, removable belt clips, speaker andmicrophone jacks, battery saver circuitry, and low battery indicators.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or centralcharacteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments,therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details givenherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A point-to-point two-way radio system comprising:a first and second two-way handheld walkie-talkie radio, wherein thefirst and second two-way handheld walkie-talkies do not communicate oneto the other through a base station, each handheld walkie-talkie radiocomprising: a transmitter for transmitting a call announcement signaland for transmitting a separate voice signal, said voice signal beingdifferent from said call announcement signal and being transmitted overa fixed frequency range; a receiver for receiving the voicecommunication signal and call announcement signal and for announcing thecall announcement signal; a vibrator responsive to the call announcementsignal; an audible notification means responsive to the callannouncement signal; and, a switch for selectively choosing between anaudible call announcement or a vibrational call announcement.
 2. Thetwo-way radio system of claim 1 wherein the fixed frequency range is462.5 MHZ to 463.0 MHZ.
 3. The two-way radio system of claim 1 whereinthe first and second handheld radios operate on DC power.
 4. The two-wayradio system of claim 3 wherein the first and second handheld radiosoperate on 4 AAA alkaline batteries.
 5. The two-way radio system ofclaim 3 wherein the first and second handheld radios operate on a nickelcadmium battery.
 6. The two-way radio system of claim 3 wherein one ofthe handheld radios operates on a vehicle battery.
 7. The two-way radiosystem of claim 1 wherein the fixed frequency range is 446.00625 MHZ to446.09375 MHZ.